ABERDEEN CONVENTION BUREAU TO PROMOTE NORTH-EAST IN BARCELONA 29/11/10

Aberdeen Convention Bureau will be aiming to raise the region's profile as a key destination for business tourism this week when it attends one of the leading global events for the meetings and incentive industry.

EIBTM, which takes place in Barcelona from November 30 until December 2, will be attended by more than 8,000 visitors from more than 90 countries.

The team at Aberdeen Convention Bureau proactively promotes Aberdeen City and Shire to attract new conferences to the region, travelling worldwide to pursue business and attending global trade missions and networking events with buyers and decision makers.

 The team also organises and hosts site inspection visits with invited conference organisers, to showcase the best venues and facilities the North-east has to offer.

  "EIBTM is the premier event for the meetings industry, particularly for business from the associations sector, which is our target market," explained Jacky Selway, manager of Aberdeen Convention Bureau.

 "Attendance at this exhibition is therefore vitally important in helping us to build on our key association contacts and generate leads so we can promote our new developments and heighten the region's profile.

 "Attendance is also important to show that Aberdeen is serious about attracting business tourism, particularly when other parts of Scotland have a presence at a trade show. In the next few years flagship developments such as the Trump International Golf Resort and the new University of Aberdeen library will open and we need to build up a rapport with prospective clients and maintain a strong profile so that we are well placed to sell these key attractions when they come on stream.

 "However, a limited budget means we that we do have to choose carefully which trade shows we participate in. One of the ways in which we maximise participation is to enter in joint activity with our partners in the Energy Cities Alliance, and this year we will be jointly hosting a breakfast with them on the Abu Dhabi stand."

 Aberdeen Convention Bureau will also be focusing on the new developments in the hotel sector which have recently taken place in the city.

 "In the last few years, Aberdeen has benefited from considerable investment  in new hotels and meetings venues," continued Ms Selway. "An additional 500 bedrooms have come on stream in the last six months alone. We are really well-placed for the region to now attract new markets and cater for even larger conferences.

"Attending EIBTM will help us put the spotlight on our region as a dynamic place to do business."

 New hotels that have recently opened include a 184-bedroom Park Inn by Radisson, which has opened in Justice Mill Lane, with a 120-bedroom Travelodge due to open nearby.

 A 100-bedroom Hilton Garden Hotel is now also open on George Street, while a 107-bed Ibis Hotel will open by the end of the year in the historic Shiprow district as part of the £32million City Wharf development.

 For more information about Aberdeen City and Shire as a conference destination contact Aberdeen Convention Bureau, call 01224 288815 or visit www.aberdeenconferences.com